We Rank the Best on Research Projects

EVALUATION OF RADIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA; (A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL (UNTH), ENUGU.)

Dept: MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCE File: Word(doc) Chapters: 1-5 Views: 1

Abstract

Radiological Equipment Maintenance (REM) has been described as an integral component of Quality Assurance (QA) for the Radiological Equipments (REs). This is vital as it keeps the RE in optimum condition to aid clinicians in diagnosis. The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, which is a tertiary health institution centrally located to attend to the health needs of the masses especially in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria was understudied as a result of the reports of equipment malfunction and frequent breakdown. Questionnaire was constructed in line with the objectives of this work, and distributed to radiographers in the institute under study. The findings of this research reveals the total absence of a Quality Assurance Committee (QAC), 90.1% of the respondents reported that the only kind of technical attention given to the REs is repair, only 18.2% of the respondents hold themselves responsible for REM while others believe

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

• INTRODUCTION

Radiology according to Dryo

1

 is the branch of medicine that uses ionizing radiation for diagnosis and theraupy. These forms of radiation are produced by specific radiological equipment which can be grouped into ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation producing equipment. The first group includes the conventional x-ray equipment, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, mammography etc. The second group includes ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.Today, all healthcare delivery systems are very much technology dependent and virtually no medical intervention can take place without recourse to technology or precisely medical equipments and devices.

2

With the rapid change in technology, radiological equipments mentioned above are witnessing advancement in trend. This has led to an increased demand for the modern equipments which provides a more appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic quality

1

. The sophistication in radiological equipment has brought with it difficulty in acquisition and maintenance. Radiographers take it for granted that someone else checks imaging equipment to ensure it’s in good working order. However, checking equipment safety is a task that all radiographers should pay attention to because it relates directly to patient care and risk management.

3

 When health care givers understand that the primary role of their being in the hospital is to take care of life, perhaps we may start seeing our equipments as vital tools for the sustenance of that life.The frequent down time of equipments due to poor management of those equipments or nonchalancy of attitude is a huge risk to efficient health care delivery. A visit to most of our tertiary institutions reveals for itself the countless numbers of equipments that lie idle majorly as a result of breakdown. In the Sub-Saharan Africa region, for example, a large proportion (up to 70 per cent) of equipment lies idle due to mismanagement of the technology acquisition process, lack of user-training and lack of effective technical support

4

.A number of previous studies, conducted in low- and medium-income economies, indicate that as much as half of the equipment in urban and rural medical institutions is inoperable and not in use. As a result the efforts of medical and para-medical personnel are seriously impaired.

5

It is against the above background that the need for the evaluation of the management of radiological equipment was hatched, because of its pivotal role in patients’ diagnosis and treatment.

 

1.1     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

In the course of the researcher’s clinical postings, the following observations were made:

1. Radiological equipments (RE) were not in use as a result of breakdown.
2. Radiological service delivery to the patients was inadequate due to frequent Radiological Equipment (RE) breakdown.
3. Some of the radiological equipment took a longer time to start, thus increasing patient waiting time.
4. Some radiological service(s) were non-existent and could not be offered as a result of the non-availability of necessary RE/facility

 

 

 

• GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

This study hopes to find answers to the frequent breakdown (partial and total breakdown) of the radiological equipments in tertiary health institutions in Nigeria using the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) as a case study, and thus become handy to the hospital in the formulation of effective preventive maintenance and servicing of the equipment.

1.2.1  SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The specific objectives of the study include:

1. To determine the root cause(s) for equipment breakdown.
2. To find out the radiological equipment management pattern being practiced in the radiology department in UNTH
3. To determine the efficiency of the equipment management plan being practiced.
4. To inquire if there is the presence and the degree of functionality of Quality assurance and Quality control programs in place as required by law.
5. To find out the managerial level at which equipment management is being attended to.

 

 

• SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

It is believed that the findings of this research will:

1. Assist the department in proper equipment management.
2. Proffer a workable timetable for conducting periodic checks on equipments.
3. Improve promptness and effectiveness of the services rendered as the equipment would be in good working condition.

 

1.4              SCOPE OF STUDY

The study was carried out in the Radiology Department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.